Abstract: A security system useful for monitoring an automated teller machine (ATM) includes a camera that provides images of at least selected portions of the ATM. A controller automatically determines whether a difference between a reference image of the ATM and a subsequently acquired image from the camera indicates an alteration to the ATM. One example provides the ability to detect whether a skimming reader has been placed adjacent a card receiving slot. A disclosed example includes acquiring a plurality of reference images corresponding to different lighting conditions and using an appropriate one of the reference images based upon a lighting condition or time of day associated with a subsequently acquired image.

Abstract: A card reader housing (20) has an exterior surface configuration (22) that includes a plurality of distinct surface portions (24-38) aligned at oblique angles relative to each other. The exterior surface configuration (22) prevents the placement of a skimming reader over the top of the card reader housing (20). In a disclosed example, a finger-receiving notch (50) is directly aligned with a reader (60) and has a depth and a dimension sized for receiving at least a portion of a finger holding a card inserted into a slot (46) in the housing (20). Any alteration of the notch (50) dimensions prevents proper operation of the card reader.

Abstract: A method for improving a video-processing algorithm (36) identifies Video data (48) that may have been misinterpreted by the video-processing algorithm (36). The identified video data (48) is provided to a monitoring center (38) that uses the identified video data (48) to modify and improve upon the video-processing algorithm (36). An improved video-processing algorithm (49) is able to correctly analyze the identified video data (48).

Abstract: A security system useful for monitoring an automated teller machine (ATM) includes a camera that provides images of at least selected portions of the ATM. A controller automatically determines whether a difference between a reference image of the ATM and a subsequently acquired image from the camera indicates an alteration to the ATM. One example provides the ability to detect whether a skimming reader has been placed adjacent a card receiving slot. A disclosed example includes acquiring a plurality of reference images corresponding to different lighting conditions and using an appropriate one of the reference images based upon a lighting condition or time of day associated with a subsequently acquired image.

Abstract: A security system (20) includes a plurality of sensors (22-26) that provide an indication of a security condition to a corresponding plurality of microcontrollers (32-36). Each microcontroller communicates information regarding the security condition to a central control (40). The communications from the microcontroller include using an elliptical public key encryption for protecting a key associated with the security condition information. In a disclosed example, the security condition information is encrypted using a symmetrical encryption technique.

Abstract: A security or automation system for domestic or business premises has plural units connected into a network by a communications bus, the units including one master unit and at least one user interface unit remote from the master unit that interprets and responds to forms, containing information for display, data capture, annunciation and timeout specification, as stored in and transmitted from the master unit. The system may be expanded by one or more application units, which have their own forms that are transmitted to the user interface unit, in order to communicate with the user and using a common format specified for the system and interpreted by the user interface, in order for the application unit to display data on and capture data from the user interface so that it may enhance its own operation and that of master unit through communications provided by a communications protocol managed by the master unit.